Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Aug 28, 2009 8:36 am Im toying with idea of using the space between our sleeper retaining wall and colorbond fence, which is probably only 400mm, to either plant some ornamental grasses, or some kind of plants that overhang and could grow down over the retaining wall a) Can i grow plants in this space, will the water damage the retaining wall or the fence? The retaining wall has that black hessian stuff and the colorbond is up a fair bit with a timber sleeper underneath the bottom rail. b) If I can grow plants here what would you recommend? The grasses would grow up and be in contact with the colorbond so this might be a no-no so a overhanging plant might be the shot. Any idea's or suggestions, one of those nice mega crazy flowering overhanging plants would be cool Here's a pic, not the best, but showing what im talking about, basically the full length of the block Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 2Aug 28, 2009 8:46 am DaVinci will correct me but I think the main issues will be drainage away from the timber. Some moisture will be ok, but eccessive will cause rott of the time. it amy take some time to rot, but when it does you will be up fro some coin. Dig the dirt away down to the level of the second sleeper, then put in some blue metal rock in a ditch up against the speelper. Add an aggy pipe to take away the moisture, cover with more blue metal, then soil on tim. THe blue emtal allows the water to esily seep through to the pipe. Plumb the pipe to a bucket or container to use on your plants. Adrian B Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 3Aug 28, 2009 9:08 am thanks adrian, that sounds doable, there is aggy pipe at the base of the sleeper wall already and it does have the hessian to prevent rottage, reckon it still warrants doing the digging down that far? we can only water with a watering can here anyway, and i would want a low water needing plant as well Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 4Aug 28, 2009 9:51 am There are some issues to consider plants in that small space. 1. grow plants that will not need additional water just what nature provides, like native wisteria (Hardenbergia violacea) a climber that might cover the fence. It does need some water during establishment period but survives with no watering later in our dry Perth summers. 2. grasses might grow too wide as clumps are concerned and digging them out would be a big job, perhaps some native dianellas would be a better option, though I am not sure. 3. plants might get burned from the heat reflected from that fence, I know it is a persistent problem people have when they are trying to cover them. Another option would be grow something tough at the bottom of the retaining wall, like espaliered bushes/trees and temporarily plant silver dichodra in that narrow space just to pretty it up . Not an easy smace to work with. Fu might come up with better ideas. Maggie Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 5Aug 28, 2009 11:21 am What sort of timber is it? It's a garden retaining wall so it should be something that can take the elements, plus for structural reasons it should have drainage to prevent a build-up of water behind it. What would you have if not plants? I think you'd want something not only for the aesthetics but to keep the weeds down (I remember reading that it's best not to spray weedicide along metal fences). I agree the radiant heat might be a problem. Which way does the fence face? Hardenbergias are a lovely idea, I've seen them spilling down slopes and growing as climbers. I'm not sure if that's different varieties or just how they are trained. Also maybe look at Star Jasmine, Creeping Boobialla or Pigface? The small varieties of Dianella and Liriope would fit but I'm not sure how they'd cope with radiant heat. We have some Dianella Little Rev alongside a driveway that gets sun for most of the day and they are doing okay. Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 6Aug 28, 2009 11:28 am the fence runs north to south so would only get the crazy heat for half the day till the sun went passed the half way point. a fair bit of the fence will get some protection by the house as well. but we are in ipswich and it does get hot here so whatever goes in needs needs to be tough regardless.... the retaining wall is made of hardwood, does have draininge and does have the material to protect the timber so yer, i thought it might be okay but dont know. Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. Re: Garden between sleeper wall & colorbond fence? 7Aug 28, 2009 11:32 am omg, if thats what your talking about im in love, its beautiful! definitely going to look into that http://austraflora.com/plants_html/cree ... ppyduo.htm Blog - http://snakedr.blogspot.com/ Build Thread - viewtopic.php?f=31&t=12084&p=307406#p307406 Status - PCI 15/10. Things nearly done. 2 7525 Sorry, don't know costs, but there are a couple of very important principles you need to get right (and now) .... (1) never agree to any "upgrade" unless you first know… 5 6838 4 11199 |